what is a "special road district?" (subdivision, property tax)

[christina0001]

I called the county this morning to see if they were ever going to plow our road. The lady at the county office told me we are in a "special road district" and gave me the names and numbers of a few people to call. I did not need to call as my husband said they finally came down and plowed around noon. But what does that mean, a special road district? I just assumed that county roads were maintained by the county.

[GunnerTHB]

I'm thinking that County Roads are handled by the "Special Road Districts" while the County maintains lettered highways. I could be wrong about that though. The county road I grew up on is a dead end so no one really bothers maintaining it during winter weather.

[Arrby]

A special district is an area that has its own geographic definition. It may be in a county, or may cross county lines. It has its own tax or fee base (or maybe both), and its own governance. You should see the tax assessment for your Special District on your property tax bill.

These districts are usually set up to provide a service for a particular group of property owners for whom the county or state government is unwilling to serve. An example might be a subdivision that wants paved streets, or a road that has several landowners who want pavement, but with only a few landowners on either side of the county line. Other districts were set up to provide a level of service above the county or state standard. One may have been established to pave your road back when the county only provided gravel.

There are special road districts, special sewer districts, special water districts, and probably others.